Getting Settled in the
United States

Getting a Social Security Number  

You do not need to fill out an application or go to a Social Security office to get a Social Security number if:

• You asked for a Social Security number or card when you applied for an immigrant visa AND

• You applied for an immigrant visa in October, 2002 or later AND

• You were age 18 or older when you came to the United States.

In this situation, the information needed to assign you an SSN was sent by the Departments of State and Homeland Security to the Social Security Administration. The Social Security Administration will assign you an SSN and mail your SSN card to the same U.S. mailing address where USCIS sends your Permanent Resident Card. You should get your SSN card within 3 weeks after you arrive in the U.S. Contact the Social Security Administration if you do not get your card within 3 weeks after coming to the U.S. or if you change your mailing address after you come to the U.S. but before you receive your SSN card.

You must go to a Social Security office to get an SSN if:

• You did not ask for a Social Security number or card when you applied for an immigrant visa OR

• You applied for your immigrant visa before October, 2002 OR

• You were under age 18 when you came to the U.S.

A Social Security representative will help you apply for an SSN. Bring these documents with you when you go to the office to apply:

Taking Care of Your Money

Getting a Bank Account
A bank account is a safe place to keep your money. Banks have different kinds of accounts. Checking accounts (for paying bills) and savings accounts (for earning interest on your money) are two common ones. You can open an account for yourself or a joint account with your spouse or another person. Banks may charge you fees for some of their services.

Credit unions and savings and loan associations are other choices for banking. Your employer may have a credit union that you can join. Credit unions provide most of the same services as banks, but many offer extra services. Compare the services, fees, hours, and locations of banks before you open an account, so you can choose one that best meets your needs.

TIP: Many stores offer check-cashing services and overseas money-wiring services, but these cost money. Check to see if your bank offers these services at a lower cost.

When you open a bank account, you will be asked to prove your identity. You can use your Permanent Resident Card or driver’s license. You will also need to give the bank some money—called a “deposit”—to put into your new account. After a few days, you can take money out of your account. This is called “withdrawing” money. You can withdraw money by writing a check, going to an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), or filling out a withdrawal form in the bank.

TIP: Check your credit card bill each month to make sure all the charges are correct. If you see a charge that you did not make, call the credit card company immediately. You usually do not have to pay for charges you did not make if you tell the credit card company right away.

Write down the numbers for all bank accounts and debit, ATM, and credit cards. Also write down the phone numbers of these companies. Keep this information in a safe place. If your wallet is lost or stolen, you can call the companies and cancel all your cards. This will keep someone else from using your cards illegally.

Looking For a Job

Applying for a Job
Most employers will ask you to fill out a job application. This is a form with questions about your address, education, and past work experience. It may also ask for information about people you have worked with in the past. These are called “references,” and the employer may want to call them to ask questions about you.

You may need to create a “resumé” with a list of your work experience. A resumé tells your employer about your past jobs, your education or training, and your job skills. Take your resumé when you apply for work.

A good resumé:

• Has your name, address, and phone number.

• Lists your past jobs and includes dates you worked.

• Shows your level of education.

• Shows any special skills you have.

• Is easy to read and has no mistakes.

Check with local community service agencies to see if they can help you write a resumé. Private businesses can help with this, too, but they charge a fee.

The Job Interview

What to Expect When You Are Hired
When you go to your new job for the first time, you will be asked to fill out some forms. These include:

• Form I-9, the Employment Eligibility Verification Form. By law, your employer must check to see that all newly hired workers are eligible to work in the U.S. On your first day of work, you will need to fill in the I-9 form. Within 3 business days, you must show your employer your identity documents and work authorization documents. You can choose what documents to show as proof of your right to work in the U.S., as long as the document is listed on the I-9 form. The list of acceptable documents is on the back of the I-9 form. Examples of acceptable documents are your Permanent Resident Card or an unrestricted Social Security number card in combination with a state-issued driver’s license.

• Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Your employer should take federal taxes from your paycheck to send to the government. This is called “withholding tax.” Form W-4 tells your employer to withhold taxes and helps you figure out the right amount to withhold.

• Other Forms. You may also need to fill out a tax withholding form for the state you live in and forms so that you can get benefits.

You may be paid each week, every two weeks, or once a month. Your paycheck will show the amount taken out for federal and state taxes, Social Security taxes, and any employment benefits you pay. Some employers will send your pay directly to your bank; this is called “direct deposit.”

Speaking English at Work

If you do not speak English, try to learn it as soon as possible. You can find free or low-cost English language classes in your community, often through the local public schools or community college. Knowing English will help you in your job, your community, and your daily life. See Learning English for more information.

If your employer says you must speak English at work, he or she must show that speaking English is required for you to do your job correctly. Your employer must also tell you that English is required before you are hired. If your employer cannot show that speaking English is required for your job, he or she may be breaking a federal law. If you need assistance or more information, you can contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Call 1-800-669-4000 or 1-800-669-6820 (hearing impaired) or go to http://www.eeoc.gov.

Drug Tests and Background Checks
For some jobs, you may be required to take a test to make sure you are not using illegal drugs. Some jobs require that you have a background check, an investigation into your past activities and present circumstances.

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Paying Taxes

Social Security and Medicare taxes. These federal taxes are withheld from your paycheck. Social Security provides benefits for certain retired workers and their families; certain disabled workers and their families; and certain family members of deceased workers. Medicare taxes pay for medical services for most people over age 65. In most cases, you must work a total of 10 years (or 40 quarters) over the course of your life to get Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare benefits. You may need fewer than 10 years of work to get disability benefits or for your family to get survivors’ benefits based on your earnings.

Sales taxes. Sales taxes are state and local taxes. These taxes are added to the cost of buying certain things. Sales taxes are based on the cost of the item. Sales taxes help pay for services provided by state and local government, such as roads, police, and firemen.

Property taxes. These are state and local taxes on your house and land. In most places, property taxes help support local public schools and other services.

People in the U.S. pay for their own medical care. Medical care is expensive, so many people buy health insurance. You should get health insurance for yourself and your family as soon as possible.

Employers may offer health insurance as a benefit to their employees. Some employers pay all of your monthly health insurance fee, and some pay only part of the fee. This monthly fee is called a “premium.” You may need to pay part of the premium. Usually, employers will deduct the employee’s part of the premium from their paycheck.

Doctors send their bills to your health insurance company. The health insurance company will pay for some or all of your medical services. Often you must pay a portion of your medical bills. This is sometimes called a “co-payment.”

If you do not have health insurance, you may be able to get federal or state healthcare assistance. In general, most states provide some type of assistance to children and pregnant women. Check with the public health department of your state or town.

If you need urgent medical care, you can go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital. Most hospitals are required by federal law to treat patients with a medical emergency even if the person cannot pay.

You or members of your family may be eligible for other federal benefits, depending on your immigration status, length of time in the U.S., and income.

The Food Stamp Program
Some low-income immigrants and immigrant children may be eligible for food stamp assistance, depending on their immigration status, length of time in the U.S., and income. Food stamps allow you to obtain some foods free at grocery stores. Some states may have their own state-funded food stamp programs with different rules for eligibility. For information on federal food stamp eligibility from the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service in 34 different languages, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/translations.htm.